LAHORE, Pakistan: Saudi Arabia on Saturday inaugurated the third terminal of the Makkah Route Initiative at Allama Iqbal International Airport in Pakistan’s Lahore city.
Pakistan’s Minister of Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki, and Director General of Passports Major General Dr. Saleh bin Saad Al-Murabba attended the inauguration ceremony, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
The initiative facilitates a seamless journey by completing all entry requirements at the point of departure, including the electronic issuance of Hajj visas, biometric data collection, and passport control.
Furthermore, luggage is coded and sorted according to accommodation arrangements in the Kingdom, allowing pilgrims to bypass airport procedures upon arrival and transfer directly to their residences in Makkah and Madinah via designated bus routes.
Since its launch in 2017, the Makkah Route Initiative has served 1,254,994 pilgrims, led by the Ministry of Interior in collaboration with the ministries of foreign affairs, health, Hajj and Umrah, and media.
The initiative also involves the General Authority of Civil Aviation, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, the General Authority for Awqaf, the Pilgrim Experience Program, and the General Directorate of Passports, in partnership with stc Group as the digital enabler.
